NSUF 16-687: Parametric study of factors affecting precipitation in model FeCrAl alloys

The objective of this project is to investigate the factors affecting alpha’ precipitation in neutron-irradiated ODS and non-ODS FeCrAl alloys. The precipitation of the alpha’ phase has been previously studied in irradiated Fe-Cr binary systems and initial results for ternary FeCrAl alloys have demonstrated key differences between the two systems. Al addition is expected to shift the alpha-alpha’ phase boundary to higher Cr compositions, and has been shown to result in the formation of precipitates that are less enriched in Cr, though this effect hasn’t been explicitly quantified. Additionally, fundamental questions remain regarding how alpha’ precipitation kinetics are affected by irradiation temperature and the presence of oxide nanoclusters in ODS materials. This project requires advanced microanalysis techniques including focused ion beam (FIB) sample fabrication and atom probe tomography (APT). FIB fabrication is required to create the samples necessary to perform APT analysis. APT analysis provides data that allows for quantification and visualization of the size, number density and composition of precipitates contained within the bulk matrix and is the de facto method for precipitate characterization. APT data collected from a selected subset of neutron-irradiated FeCrAl alloys will provide insight into precipitation mechanisms and resulting mechanical performance, thereby addressing the current knowledge gaps in the FeCrAl alloy class. The fundamental understanding of precipitation kinetics in the FeCrAl alloy class will increase the technology readiness level of FeCrAl alloys. Furthermore, this work serves as a direct correlation study to Fe-Cr alloys currently under investigation as part of the ATR-1 and ATR-2 irradiation experiment and to irradiated FeCrAl alloys studied previously under NSUF-RTE proposal 15-556. On the whole, information gained from the proposed work will have broad reaching impacts on ferrous-based alloy development for nuclear power generation including cladding, structural materials, and corrosion barrier systems in fusion and fission systems. This project is predicted to take no more than 5 months to complete. Fabrication of APT samples using FIB techniques is estimated to take no more than 2 months. Data collection of APT samples is expected to take less than two weeks. Data analysis and reporting will take approximately 2 months from the date of initial data collection.

Дополнительная информация

Поле Величина
Awarded Institution University of Wisconsin
Embargo End Date 2026-02-27
Facility Tech Lead Mukesh Bachhav
NSUF Call FY 2016 RTE 3rd Call
PI Samuel A. Briggs
Project Member Dr. Kevin Field, Associate Professor - University of Michigan (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3105-076X)
Project Member Dr. Philip Edmondson - University of Manchester (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8990-0870)
Project Member Dr. Samuel A. Briggs, Assistant Professor - Oregon State University (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2490-4720)
Project Member Professor Kumar Sridharan, Professor - University of Wisconsin
Project Notes Awarded on 08/16/2016
Project Type RTE
Publication Correlative Microscopy of Neutron-Irradiated Materials Samuel A. Briggs, Kevin Field, Kumar Sridharan Advanced Materials & Processes 174 2016-11-15 http://mio.asminternational.org/amp/201610/#II
Publication Complementary Techniques for Quantification of a' Phase Precipitation in Neutron-Irradiated Fe-Cr-Al Model Alloys Samuel A. Briggs, Philip Edmondson, Kevin Field, Kumar Sridharan Microscopy & Microanalysis 22 2016-07-12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1431927616008199
Publication Dependencies of a' embrittlement in neutron-irradiated model Fe-Cr-Al alloys Samuel A. Briggs, Philip Edmondson, Kevin Field, Kumar Sridharan ANS Transactions 114 2016-06-15 http://epubs.ans.org/?a=38766
Publication Dislocation loop evolution during in-situ ion irradiation of model FeCrAl alloys Philip Edmondson, Kevin Field, Jack Haley, Steve Roberts, Kumar Sridharan, Samuel A. Briggs Acta Materialia 136 2017-09-15 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135964541730561X
RTE Number 687